Postoperative recovery following outpatient pediatric myringotomy:: A comparison between sevoflurane and halothane

Study Objective: To assess recovery in children undergoing myringotomy and anesthetized using sevoflurane or halothane with special reference to the phenomenon of excitation reported in previous studies. Design: Prospective, randomized, single-blind study. Setting: Regional (district general) hospital. Patients: 60 healthy, physical status I children (aged 3 to 8 years) presenting for elective outpatient myringotomy. Interventions: The children were premedicated with midazolam and paracetamol and randomly allocated to one of two groups: Group H were induced with halothane (0.5% to 5%) and Group 8 with sevoflurane (1% to 8%). Anesthesia was maintained with oxygen (FIO2 = 0.33), nitrous oxide, and the study drug. No opioids were administered during surgery. Postoperatively, propofol was given (1 mg/kg) if the child was crying and uncontrollable on the excitation scale for >5 minutes. Total analgesic consumption and side effects were recorded. Measurements and Main Results: Postoperatively, the following parameters were recorded: time to eye opening, excitation, pain, time to sit unaided, time to drink water, time to walk, and time to discharge home. No differences were found in the demographic data, duration of anesthesia and operation, time to loss of eyelash reflex, time to waking up, incidence of postoperative excitation (7% and 8% in the sevoflurane and halothane groups respectively), pain, or postoperative nausea and vomiting. The ability to sit and walk, and the time to discharge home (mean 60.4 min vs. 67.1% min, respectively) was similar between the groups. Conclusions: Although some studies have reported a high incidence of excitation following sevoflurane anaesthesia, we found no differences between halothane and sevoflurane. This finding could be due to the midazolam given as premedication as well as minimal postoperative pain in these children. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.